I had an HVAC company install my AC unit and vents a little over five years ago, and one of the vents has started to come loose from the ceiling. Upon inspection, I noticed the screw doesn't seem to attach to anything at all. I tried using caulk and propping it closed overnight, but that didn't work. Any ideas on how to properly fix this? Thanks! Also, the vent isn't supporting much weight. Here's a link to some images: https://imgur.com/a/Cslb1Q8
2 Answers
It sounds like the duct might be misaligned. You could take the vent out and check how it connects. Normally, the end of the duct is bent over, allowing the screw to go through it. If that's not happening, you'll need to fix that alignment. Here's a photo of that as well if you're curious: https://imgur.com/a/vtgk2a9.
A solid fix could be to create an "L" shaped piece of sheet metal. Make it so one leg goes into the duct by about an inch, which will allow you to screw it from inside. The other leg should reach out far enough to hit the screw hole in the vent but not extend past the edge. This will help secure it in place. If you're feeling adventurous, do this for both sides of the vent. Just make sure the drywall is smooth behind those "L" brackets for a snug fit!